Kalena...Pau Hana

Kalena...Pau Hana

Posted to OHE on 10 January 2003 by Pat Rorie

Thursday, January 9, 2003 — another gorgeous "winter" afternoon on O'ahu (both the Waianae and Ko'olau mountain ranges are completely clear of clouds).

"Where shall I go to take advantage of such optimal hiking conditions?", I ask myself.

Then it occurs to me — the U.S. may soon commence another war with Iraq which will mean lost access to trails on military lands. Thus, I depart my workplace in downtown Honolulu at 4 pm bound for Schofield Barracks and a tramp along the Kalena Trail.

After patiently manuevering through heavy rush hour commuter traffic, I arrive at Lyman Gate, explain my intention to the sentry ("a short hike above Kolekole Pass") and he directs me to a spot on Road 'A' by pointing toward a coned area where another soldier stands ready to sign me in. At the coned area, the permit process is a snap (due to the fact that I look like I'm in the military? Certainly doesn't hurt).

From Road 'A', I drive the pat-mobile through Schofield Barracks, careful to observe the speed limit. Before motoring to Kolekole Pass, I stop at Bowman Park (a covered picnic area, complete with basketball courts) to change into proper hiking attire and to take a dump inside the men's room. Eventually, I drive to a gravel/dirt parking lot a short distance below Kolekole Pass (elev. 1,640 ft) and park there.

Following final preparations, I proceed on foot across Kolekole Road at 5:08 pm carring nothing but two quarter sized photon micro lights just in case I finish the hike in the dark. Up, up, up I go along a dirt road (initially) past the former location of a big white cross, and then over a steep, badly eroded slope. Because of the cool January temperatures, I hardly break a sweat, and after scrambling up an exposed rock face, the ridge levels off at a place where a benchmark used to be (someone removed the benchmark and took it as a souvenir — is nothing sacred?!).

With no time to lose, I continue the trek without pausing, the occasional rada-tat-tat sound of soldiers training below about the only thing audible at this point. Farther ahead, I tolerate Christmas berry branches protruding into the trail and then cautiously negotiate Kalena's famous (or infamous, depending on one's perspective) rock dike en route to the apex of Pu'u Kumakali'i (approx. elev. 2,860 ft). Beyond Kumakali'i is another narrow dike, and I enjoy excellent open ridge walking and superb views of vast Lualualei Valley and Pu'u Ka'ilio ("dog hill") far below, as well as the sheer rocky cliffs of the Waianae Range beneath Pu'u Hapapa while tramping over it.

At 5:44 pm I reach a nice view spot where the ridge starts to dip through a mixed forest of strawberry guava, Christmas berry and ohi'a lehua. I decide not to hike any further toward the summit and sit down to take in the wonderful sights — lying over 2000 feet below is the expanse of Lualualei and Waianae valleys leading to the ocean, massive Kamaileunu Ridge to the west, craggy Ohikilolo Ridge in the distance, Pu'u Kalena across Pukaloa Gulch, pyramid shaped Pu'u Kamaohanui to windward of Mount Ka'ala, the rays of the late afternoon sun reflecting beautifully off the surface of the Pacific Ocean.

Much to my chagrin, I reluctantly begin (chagrin? begin? I'm a poet!) the return leg at 6:01 pm. When I reach the top of Pu'u Kumakali'i, I pause briefly to watch the sun set, then continue descending toward Kolekole Pass. I retrace my steps all the way back to the dirt/gravel parking area, arriving there at 6:35 pm with a pinch of daylight to spare. A few minutes later, I'm cruising down the S curves of Kolekole Road in the pat-mobile having completed (again) one of my favorite pau hana hikes on O'ahu.

== Paka